3 incumbents fall in tribal council elections

PABLO — Change is coming to CSKT leadership after three incumbent tribal council members, including the current chairman, were defeated in elections held last weekend.

Sitting members of the council were knocked off in Arlee, Polson and St. Ignatius, where chairman Joe Durglo was soundly defeated by challenger Patty Stevens. Shelly Fyant secured roughly 70 percent of the vote in the Arlee district to top standing councilman Jim Malatare, while in Polson, Vernon Finley beat nine-year member of the council, Steve Lozar.

Another incumbent, Reuben Mathias of the Elmo district, was also ousted in primary elections held last month. The district was clinched by Len Two Teeth, whose 845 votes beat Junior Caye’s 766.

The only incumbent holding on to win re-election was Carole Lankford of Ronan, who also serves as vice-chair for the governing body. The new term will also vault Lankford into the record books as the longest-serving female member in the council’s history.

Official results are listed below:

*Incumbent tribal council representative

ARLEE         

Jim Malatare*        505

Shelly R. Fyant    1109

ELMO

Junior Caye        766

Len Two Teeth    845

POLSON

Steve Lozar*            741

Vernon Finley            874

RONAN         

Carole DePoe Lankford*    1034

Tracey Burland        565

ST. IGNATIUS

Joe Durglo*            662

Patty Stevens            951

Total votes            1615